Solution dispensing device



May 14, 1940- v. J. SINKWICH SOLUTION DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Dec. 6, 1939 FIG.!

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. VINCENT J. SINKWICH A TOR EY.

May M, 1940- v. J. SINKWICH SOLUTION DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Dec. 6, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGAI- r IIIJJIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR.

VINCENT J.SENKWICH ATTORNEY.

Patented May 14, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to alkali solution dispensers particularly for dish washing machines and is a copending application to Patent No. 2,138,943, granted December 6, 1938. V

The invention has for one of its objects the provision of such a device the use of which will insure a balanced and uniform dispensation of the solution.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which will economically dispense the washing solution and thus provide a considerable saving in the consumption of the alkali.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device which will automatically insure the outflow of a washing or alkali solutionhav ing a practically constant concentration.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a device in which the washing solution dispensing receptacle is provided with one or more conduit forming pockets at the circumferential wall of the receptacle (and positioned above the bottom thereof and outlet openings in the said wall leading outwardly of the said pockets and below the top of the said pockets to insure the dispensation of an adequate amount of the washing or alkali solution at all times.

Another object is to produce a device of the character described in which the maximum simplicity of construction and operation is secured.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consisting substantially in the novel arrangement and co-relation of parts herein fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters are used to describe corresponding parts throughout the several views, and then finally pointed out and specifically defined and indicated in the appended claims.

The disclosure made the basis of exemplifying the present inventive concept suggests a practical embodiment thereof, but the invention is not to be restricted to the exact details of this disclosure, and the latter, therefore, is to be understood from an illustrative, rather than a restrictive standpoint.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, one of which, for the purpose of illustration, is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a fragmental longitudinal sectional view of a dishwashing machine showing Referring now to the drawings in detail Ill 10 indicates the body or casing of a dishwashing machine having a compartment l I for the reception of a washing solution.

In the dishwashing machines now commonly used there is provided an upper and a lower revolving spraying mechanism between which a tray of dishes to be washed is placed. In the accompanying drawings I have shown only a portion of the lower spraying mechanism as the said spraying mechanism forms no part of my invention.

The said lower spraying mechanism comprises a rotatable or revolving device having tubular wash arms I2 and I3 and a pair of tubular rinse arms l4 and IS. The wash arms 12 and I3 are supplied with water, having a washing for instance an alkali solution therein by means of a motor driven pump IS in communication with the chamber or compartment II and the rinse arms l5 are supplied with fresh water through a pipe line I! with which they are suitably connected.

It is to be understood that if no other source of alkali solution were provided outside of the solution in the compartment II the said solution would soon be dissipated as the fresh water from the pipes l4 and I5 enters the cbmpartment ll through the strainer l8 diluting the contents of .the said compartment and causing same to overflow and pass out through the drain pipe l9.

To overcome this undesirable item I provide an auxiliary alkali holder and dispenser 20 which may be placed upon the strainer I8 or upon any other suitable portion of the lower part of the washing machine. The said dispenser comprises a bowl-like receptacle 2| having a cover 22 which fits over the open top thereof. The cover 22 is provided with a central upstanding annular flange 23 upon which there is supported an inner can-like receptacle 24 which is preferably provided with a shoulder or bead 25 for supporting same upon the flange 23. The inner receptacle 24 is provided with a cover 26 the inner surface of the top wall thereof being lined with a wire mesh screen 21, the said screen underlying openlugs 28 in the top wall of the cover 26. A bracket 29 is secured to the bottom wall 30' of the can or receptacle 24. Located within the said receptacle 24 is a float 3| having an upper stem 32 which passes through a central opening 33 in the cover 26 and is guided therein. A lower stem 34 passes through a valve opening 35 in the bottom wall 30, and a reduced stem portion 36 passes through a central opening 31 in the bracket 29.

The receptacle 2| is provided with one or more conduit forming pockets, two such pockets 40 being shown in the present disclosure.

The said pockets are formed by the semicircular bends 4| of a ring of which the diameter is such that the same snugly fits into the receptacle 2|. The pockets 40 are open ended, that is they have an upper and a lower open end and they are in direct communication with the interior of the receptacle 2|. They extend vertically within the receptacle with their open lower end spaced from the bottom of the same.

Leading outwardly from each of the said pockets 40 through the circumferential wall of the receptacle 2| is a port or opening 43, the said holes being positioned below the upper open end of the said semitubular sections 4|. The said port holes or outlet openings 43 may be partly covered by protecting extensions 44.

In order to determine the progress of the consumption of the alkali in the receptacle 2| a feeler is provided. This feeler consists of a rod 46 the ends 41 thereof being rotatably supported in the walls of the receptacle. One of these ends extends into a handle 48. The central portion 49 of the feeler is shaped in such manner that when the handle 41 is actuated this portion just slides over the bottom 42 of the receptacle.

The resistance which is encountered in rotating the feeler indicates if the receptacle is still filled with solid substance. The feeler (see Fig. 4) penetrates with its ends through apertures of the ring 45, whereby the latter is held in its proper position.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The receptacle 2| is filled with a washing substance for instance alkali to approximately the height indicated at 45 Fig. 2 and is placed upon the screen l8. The pumping operation is started and some of the water coming from the washing and rinsing arms I2, ,l3, l4, and I5 will enter the float receptacle 24 through the openings 28 and will tend to flll same up causing the float 3| to rise and permit the said water to escape into the receptacle 2| through the valve opening 35, the movement of the float being controlled by shoulders on the stem 32 formed by the enlarged portion. As the receptacle 2| fills. up some of the solution will flow out through the outlet ports 43 the flow being partly upward through the pockets 40 as indicated by the arrow 41 and partly downward over the tops of the said conduits.

The special form of these open ended pockets 40 is an important feature of this invention as it automatically insures an outflow of a practically uniform quantity and of a uniformly concentrated solution through the openings 43 independently of the consumption of the solid substance or alkali charged in the receptacle.

When the receptacle 20 is primarily fllled with the. powdered substance the water inflowing through suitable apertures of the cover 22 or of the water admitting vessel 20 penetrates into the upper layers of the charge; a concentrated solution is formed which overflows over the upper edge of the conduits 4| and outflows through opening 43. Gradually the alkali is consumed from the top layers and as a consequence thereof the overflowing solution becomes less concentrated and less in quantity as thesolution flows down more rapidly into deeper layers of the alkali. This however, is counteracted by the fact that the solution now starts to enter into the bottom layers which are located underneath the lower edge of the sections 4|. From these bottom lay ers a highly concentrated solution is forced by the hydraulic head prevailing in the receptacle 2| in the direction of the lower arrow 41 (Fig. 2) into the lower open end of the pockets 4!]. In the same proportion as the solid alkali is consumed from the higher layers and the overflowing solution becomes less concentrated the amount of concentrated solution from the deeper layers is increased, because the decreasing height of the alkali permits a more rapid flow of the solution through the bottom outlet of the pockets. The solution entering into this bottom end is mixed within the pockets with the less concentrated solution overflowing in the direction of the upper arrow; a final outflowing solution is created thereby which is made up from the overflowing and the upflowing portion; hereby an approximately equal amount of outflowing solution having a uniform concentration is produced.

It will be readily seen that without the conduit 4 4| the strong solution would soon be dissipated and after a short time nothing but the top layer of water entering from the float receptacle would escape through the openings 43 to replenish the alkali solution supply in the washing machine compartment However, with the introduction of the said conduits the solution must perforce come from the bottom at all times, whether or not there is an overflow from the top, thus insuring an adequately strong solution at .all times to replenish the contents of the compartment II to be pumped for dishwashing purposes.

I may here state the pump I6 is of the intermittent type, that is, it runs for a short time, then stops and after a short lapse starts again. This intermittent operation causes the float 3| to move up and down, said movement tending to dislodge any alkali deposit in the valve opening 35 as well as in the bearing openings 33 and 37 preventing any clogging of the device and insuring a steady flow of water through the said valve opening and a steady replenishing supply of alkali solution to the compartment II. I also flnd that due to the arrangement of the conduits 4| with relation to the outlet openings 43 there is a much slower yet even and balanced dissipation of the alkali solution than would be the case without the use of the said conduits thus resulting in a great saving in the consumption of alkali.

The described function of the pockets 40 is independent of the float. Therefore the operation of the device can be successfully performed with a single top 22 (see Fig. 4) provided with suitable inlets for the water and the solution outflowing from the arms l2, l3, |4, |5, these inlets being preferentially protected by screens.

I claim:

1. A solution dispensing device particularly for washing machines comprising a receptacle, for the introduction of the washing liquid producing substances, at least one outlet opening in the wall thereof, an open ended pocket at said opening extending within the receptacle with its open upper end slightly above said outlet opening and being spaced with its open lower end from the bottom of the receptacle, a top on said receptacle and liquid inlet openings in the middle portion thereof for the admission of dissolving liquid, the diilference 01' height between the upper end of said open pocket and of said outlet and the distance between the lower end of the pocket and the bottom of the dispenser being chosen in such manner that in proportion to the progressing consumption of the cleaning substance by the instreaming water the washing liquid is composed by mutually varying amounts of the solution overflowing the upper end of the pocket and entering through the lower end of the same whereby a practically equal concentration of the dispensed washing liquid is insured.

2. A device according to claim 1 characterized therein that the open ended pocket is formed by inward bends of a ring inserted into the receptacle.

VINCENT J. SINKWICH. 

